OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1916. 97 



character of fruit, some being inferior and otliers very choice, as in the avocado. 

 The tree from which this bud wood was taken stands by the porch of the old 

 house at Finca Sepacuite and is said by Mr. Kensett Champney to produce 

 fruits of very good quality." (Popenoe.) 



43932 to 43935. Persea Americana Mill. Lauracese. Avocado. 



(P. gratissima Gaertn. f.) 



From Guatemala. Bud sticks collected by Mr. Wilson Popenoe, Agricul- 

 tural Explorer for the Department of Agriculture. Received December, 

 1916, to July, 1917. 



43932. "(Nos. 74, 95, 155. Avocado No. 8.) Cohan. This variety en- 

 joys something of a reputation in Coban as an avocado of unusually 

 fine quality. In addition, it has a small seed and other good charac- 

 teristics, which combine to make it a promising sort. 



" The parent tree stands in the sitio of Filadelfo Pineda, in Coban, 

 Department of Alta Vera Paz. The elevation is 4,325 feet. The ground 

 beneath the branches is given out to a vegetable garden, with the ex- 

 ception of that to the east side, which is cut off by a tall hedge of 

 chichicaste {Loasa speciosa). The soil is a heavy clay loam, proba- 

 bly underlain by stiff clay. According to the owner, the tree is 30 or 

 more years of age. It is about 40 feet high, with a dense, dome- 

 shaped crown fully 40 feet broad. The trunk is 18 inches in diameter 

 at the base, branching some 10 feet from the ground. At the present 

 time the tree is badly attacked by several insect pests and does not 

 appear to be in good condition. It appears normally to be reasonably 

 vigorous in growth, the young branches being somewhat slender, but 

 not very brittle. The bud wood furnished by the tree is fairly good, 

 the eyes being well developed and showing no tendency to drop at an 

 early stage. The twigs are at times slender and angular. 



" The climate of Coban is mild ; hence, there is nothing to indicate 

 that this variety will be any hardier than the average of the Guate- 

 malan race. 



" The flowering season is February and March. Up to a few years 

 ago the tree is said to have borne large crops of fruit, but at present 

 it does not seem to be doing so well, perhaps owing to the weakened 

 condition of the tree as a result of the attacks of insects and other 

 pests. When first examined in December, 1916, there were only a 

 few fruits on the tree, perhaps a dozen, and after the flowers which 

 were produced in 1917 had fallen only a few fruits were found to 

 be left on the tree for the next season, most of them having fallen 

 before they attained the size of walnuts. They were malformed, as 

 though from the attacks of some parasite. The ripening season is said 

 to be February to March, a few fruits being picked in December and 

 January and some hanging on the tree until April or May. 



"This is a fruit of medium size, weighing about 15 ounces. In 

 form it is pear shaped, tending to obovoid. The surface is slightly 

 rough, deep green in color, while the skin is moderately thick, hard, 

 and woody. The flesh is of unusually deep yellow color, quite free 

 from discoloration of any kind, smooth and oily, and of unusually rich 

 flavor. The seed is rather small in comparison to the size of the fruit 

 and is perfectly tight in the seed cavity. 

 30824°— 21 7 



